Department for Transport

Railways: Compensation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport of 11 May 2016, Official Report, HC Deb, column 692, when officials began working on the proposals to implement the 15-minute threshold for rail journey compensation; from what date he expects that customers will be able claim compensation under that threshold; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: We are committed to improving compensation arrangements for passengers. The Chancellor announced in his Autumn 2015 Spending Review that passengers will soon have access to compensation when trains are over 15 minutes late. We expect to make an announcement on this in the next few months. We will work with the rail industry to agree the best possible deal for passengers in implementing this improvement and will set out the details of when the new arrangements will be in place shortly.

Govia Thameslink Railway

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will release a copy of the modelling analysis referred to in the GTR Remedial Plan, published on 12 February 2016, on the combined impact of the infrastructure restrictions at London Bridge, the diversion of Thameslink services and the increased use of London Victoria as a terminus on the punctuality and reliability of the network.

Claire Perry: The results of Network Rail’s modelling analysis of the combined impacts of changes to rail operations at London Bridge were discussed with rail operators and the Department for Transport. The Department does not, however, hold a copy of this analysis.

Railways: Fares

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects part-time season tickets to be available to all rail passengers.

Claire Perry: Progress is being made on the delivery of more flexible tickets. We are challenging operators to introduce products which give passengers more flexibility. This month c2c launched their flexi-day season on their smartcard. Passengers who commute three times a week to London from Southend can save over £135 a year with the new ticket. Other operators such as Govia Thameslink Railway and Arriva Trains Wales already offer flexible products on selected routes that can provide passengers who work or commute part-time a better deal.

Network Rail: Contracts

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2016 to Question 39089, on railway signals, and with reference to Network Rail's press release of 29 May 2014, entitled Britain's rail revolution quickens pace as first contracts for new traffic management technology are awarded, what the reason is for the difference in the values for Network Rail's traffic management first deployment contract.

Claire Perry: In the 29 May 2014 press release, Network Rail quoted the cost incurred with the supplier, whereas the answer to Question 39089 stated the total deployment cost, which also includes installation and operational costs.

Cycling

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the most recent meeting of the (a) Cycling Stakeholder Forum and (b) Cycling Safety Sub-Group was held.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The last Cycling Stakeholder forum meeting was on 24th June 2014, and the last safety-sub group meeting was held on 13 July 2013. Following a review of governance arrangements it was decided that the functions of the Stakeholder Forum would be taken over by the High Level Group of Cycling and Walking stakeholders which had started meeting at the end of April 2014.

Cardiff Central Station

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent representations he has received about plans to redevelop Cardiff Central railway station.

Claire Perry: I am aware of local stakeholder interest in the redevelopment of Cardiff Central Station which was identified by the rail industry in the Welsh Route Study as a choice for funders for the next five year Network Rail funding period (CP6, 2019-2024). I stand ready to discuss with the Welsh Government and the new Cardiff City Region Capital Transport Authority how a potentially viable and fundable scheme for Cardiff Central Station could be developed. Later this year, the rail industry will present its initial advice on investment needs for the national network, for 2019 onwards. On the basis of this advice, Government intends to articulate its emerging priorities for improvements to the national network during 2017.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 May 2016 to Question 37789, how much investment there has been in rolling stock by (a) private operators and (b) his Department in each year since 1994.

Claire Perry: The value of contracts are a commercial matter between the operator and the rolling stock owner. However, private investment in new and refurbished rolling stock since 1994 is in excess of £7.5 billion. The Department has procured the Thameslink and InterCity Express Programme rolling stock as part of complete packages. The costs of the rolling stock is a commercially confidential matter between the Department and the successful bidders for those projects.

Railways: East of England

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) East Anglia franchise bidders on rolling stock and (b) rolling stock companies on the East Anglia franchise.

Claire Perry: The procurement process for the operator of the East Anglia franchise is ongoing. We will make an announcement in due course and communications in regards to the rolling stock solution will be made at that point in time.

Thameslink Railway Line: Rolling Stock

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 May 2016 to Question 37807, on Thameslink railway line: rolling stock, whether he expects the Class 700 Thameslink rolling stock to come into revenue-earning service in 2016.

Claire Perry: The new Class 700 Thameslink trains are expected to enter into revenue earning service shortly.

Railways: East of England

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's policy is on maintaining an intercity standard train service between (a) Norwich and London, (b) Ipswich and London, (c) Colchester and London and (d) Chelmsford and London.

Claire Perry: In our invitation to tender for the East Anglia franchise we have asked bidders to: As a minimum meet the train services we have specified in the invitation to tender and to develop train services that are attractive to passengers within each of the different Market Segments served by the Franchise which includes the Intercity Services that offer long distance rail services between London and Norwich operating on the Great Eastern Mainline and calling at the stations you mention. This includes train services between Norwich and London that have a journey time of 90 minutes or less each weekday and between Ipswich and London that have a journey time of less than 60 minutes. Furthermore they have been asked to implement a rolling stock fleet solution that delivers the train services to consistently high standards of rolling stock availability, reliability and presentation through effective management, maintenance and improvement of rolling stock assets. As a minimum this includes ensuring that all rolling stock that forms part of the Train Fleet is compatible with the infrastructure throughout the Core Franchise Term and any Extension and has an internal lay out and facilities appropriate for the Market Segments served. I look forward to saying more in the coming weeks.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Dalai Lama

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy not to recognise any future Dalai Lama where that person has been selected by the Chinese government.

Mr Hugo Swire: I refer the Hon. Member to my answer to his question of 26 April (35532). The Government does not have a policy on the reincarnation of Tibetan Lamas, which includes the Dalai Lama.

Asia: Climate Change

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 26 April 2016 to Question 35542, on Asia: climate change, if he will draw to the attention of the Department for Energy and Climate Change the report to which he refers in that Answer.

Mr Hugo Swire: We have drawn the report prepared by the International Campaign for Tibet entitled “Tibet’s water and global climate change” to the attention of the Department for Energy and Climate Change.

China: Tibet

David Mackintosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Chinese counterpart for the release of Tashi Wangchuk.

Mr Hugo Swire: We plan to raise the case of Tashi Wangchuk at the next round of the UK-China human rights dialogue.

Fiji: Russia

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports he has received of delivery of arms by Russia to Fiji.

Mr Hugo Swire: The Republic of Fiji Military Forces received a shipment of small arms, ammunition and mobile repair workshops from Russia in January. The equipment is consistent with that required to support Fiji’s deployments to international peacekeeping operations in Golan, Lebanon, Sinai, and South Sudan.

China: Tibet

David Mackintosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Chinese counterpart on releasing the Tibetan blogger Druklo.

Mr Hugo Swire: We plan to raise the case of Druklo (also known as Shokjang) at the next round of the UK-China human rights dialogue.

China: Tibet

David Mackintosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Chinese government on the detention and charging of Tibetan education advocate Tashi Wangchuk; and what response he has received to those representations.

Mr Hugo Swire: We plan to raise the case of Tashi Wangchuk at the next round of the UK-China human rights dialogue.

Sudan: Intelligence Services

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of whether the Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services had a role in the recent deaths of student protestors.

James Duddridge: We are deeply concerned by the deaths of two students during recent protests, including allegations of the National Intelligence and Security Service’s involvement. We have raised our concerns with the Government of Sudan and believe that a full and transparent investigation should be undertaken to ensure those responsible are held to account.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Apprentices: Taxation

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the new Apprenticeship Levy on the number of apprenticeship start-ups from September 2016.

Nick Boles: The Department does not produce forecasts for apprenticeship starts. Apprenticeships are paid jobs and their availability is dependent on employers offering opportunities and hiring apprentices.The levy will fund a step-change in apprenticeship numbers and quality – delivering on our commitment to 3 million new apprenticeship starts in England by 2020. It will put apprenticeship funding on a sustainable footing and improve the technical and professional skills of the workforce.It will encourage employers to invest in their apprentices and take on more. Employers in England who pay the levy and are committed to apprenticeships training will be able to get out more than they pay in to the levy through a top-up of additional funding to their digital accounts. The government will apply a 10% top-up to monthly funds entering levy paying employers digital accounts, for apprenticeship training in England, from April 2017. Apprentices who have been accepted on to an apprenticeship before April 2017 will be funded for the full term of the apprenticeship under the terms and conditions that were in place at the time their apprenticeship started.

Automation

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether his Department has made an estimate of the potential number of jobs which will be replaced by automation over the next two decades.

Nick Boles: The Department has not made a specific forecast of how many jobs will be replaced (or how many additional jobs will be created) over the next two decades due to automation. However, the Government’s Horizon Scanning Programme exploring the impacts of automation on the labour market, and engaging with our international partners.Government is taking action to provide individuals with the skills that will help prepare them for changes to the labour market, such as the new school computing curriculum, developing new apprenticeship standards, growing the apprenticeships programme, and introducing the Institute for Coding.

Department for Education

Free School Meals

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the additional cost relative to the previous system of additional entitlements to free school meals created by new eligibility criteria under universal credit.

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy that any children who would have been entitled to free school meals under the previous system retain that entitlement under the new eligibility criteria under universal credit.

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when new eligibility criteria for free school meals under universal credit will be (a) published and (b) implemented.

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will estimate the cost of providing free school meals to children of people in receipt of universal credit upon the full roll-out of that benefit; and what the cost was of the provision of such free school meals to children of people in receipt of benefits prior to the roll-out of universal credit.

Mr Sam Gyimah: We will continue to ensure that children from the poorest families benefit from a free school meal. My Department is continuing to work closely with the Department for Work and Pensions to consider eligibility criteria for free school meals following the introduction of Universal Credit. In the meantime, any child in a family in receipt of Universal Credit will continue to be entitled to free school meals.

Nurseries

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of the existing 15 hours of free childcare that is provided by nurseries that are (a) private, (b) voluntary and (c) independent.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The information requested is presented within the Main tables: SFR20/2015 at the following link:Provision for children under 5 years of age: January 2015 - Publications - GOV.UK Figures for 2-year-olds can be found within Table 1a and for 3- and 4-year-olds, within Table 2a.

Special Educational Needs: East Sussex

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding for children and young people with special educational needs was allocated to East Sussex local authority area through the dedicated schools grant in each of the last three years.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Funding for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) is allocated to local authorities through the dedicated schools grant (DSG), which includes both funding to be delegated to mainstream schools, and funding for the additional costs associated with educating children and young people with high needs. The Department does not allocate specific amounts of funding for children and young people with SEN within the funding allocated to local authorities for their mainstream schools. Schools are funded through a formula set by their local authority, and local authorities are required to delegate funds to a level that enables schools to meet the additional costs of pupils with SEN, up to £6,000 per annum. For those pupils whose additional support costs more than £6,000 the local authority pays top-up funding to the schools from their high needs budget. East Sussex County Council’s high needs allocation, within the dedicated schools grant, in each of the last three years was as follows:2015-16: £44.06 million2014-15: £42.82 million2013-14: £40.94 million

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces: Complaints

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what interim milestones he has set for the armed forces to improve their response time to complaints to the target level of 90 per cent closed within 24 weeks.

Mark Lancaster: The Secretary of State for Defence has set no interim milestones. The single Services continually monitor and assess the performance of the service complaints system to learn lessons, and to understand what might be causing Service personnel to make complaints. Where it is identified that there are issues that are causing undue delay in the resolution of complaints, action can be taken to prevent this from occurring in the future.

Armed Forces: Information Warfare

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether 77th Brigade's full operating capability has been met.

Penny Mordaunt: Following its establishment in April 2015, 77th Brigade is planned to reach full operating capability in December 2019.

Armed Forces: Information Warfare

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what expertise on Russia is required of members of the 77th Brigade; what the operational deployment standards are of that brigade; and how many members of that brigade were recruited from the Reserves.

Penny Mordaunt: Russia is just one of a wide range of different nations that elements of 77th Brigade are studying in order to develop a deep understanding of their approach to operations. The focus is on specific aspects of these countries' operational concepts and doctrine including information warfare and the use of non-military means.As is normal for operational deployments overseas, personnel will only deploy once they have met standards laid down for each theatre by the Joint Commander.There are currently 141 reserve personnel serving with 77th Brigade.

Armed Forces: Information Warfare

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of the (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Air Force are deployed to the 77th Brigade.

Penny Mordaunt: 77th Brigade includes 10 members of the Naval Service (Royal Navy and Royal Marines) and 11 Royal Air Force personnel.

Armed Forces: Information Warfare

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which languages to what level members of the 77th Brigade speak.

Penny Mordaunt: 77th Brigade does not specifically select personnel for language capability. However, personnel within the brigade hold 59 'standard level profile' (GCSE - to master's degree level) qualifications in languages including Dari, Pashtu, Russian and Urdu. Some personnel hold more than one of these qualifications.

Armed Forces: Information Warfare

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the doctrine and concepts are of the 77th Brigade; and how those doctrines and concepts were developed.

Penny Mordaunt: Doctrine provides the philosophy and enduring principles by which military forces guide their actions. 77th Brigade uses a combination of NATO and UK doctrine including for Civil Military Cooperation, Security, Stabilisation, Information and Media Operations, as well as Peace Support and Humanitarian Assistance.The doctrine applied by 77th Brigade has been developed through collaboration with NATO allies, within the UK military and with other Government Departments. It will also have called on the experience and expertise of other nations and academia. The doctrine is dynamic, being constantly tested against experience, and crafted for a contemporary environment, and will therefore continue to develop as new or anticipated challenges appear.

Armed Forces: Information Warfare

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his (a) US counterpart and (b) other NATO counterparts on the role of the 77th Brigade.

Penny Mordaunt: None.

Armed Forces: Information Warfare

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) exercises and (b) deployments the 77th Brigade has conducted in each of the last three years.

Penny Mordaunt: Since 77th Brigade was formed in April 2015, 116 personnel have deployed on 30 exercises, the vast majority of which have been UK based; 20 personnel have deployed on four separate operations; and a further 23 personnel have deployed non-operationally as part of Short Term Training Teams to five countries.

Ministry of Defence Police: Trident

Deidre  Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of changes to the size of the workforce of the Ministry of Defence Police on (a) public safety and (b) safeguarding the Trident nuclear deterrent.

Mark Lancaster: The safety and security at all of our nuclear facilities is of the upmost importance and the Ministry of Defence has several security providers which deliver this capability. Our arrangements are frequently tested and kept under continual review. We would never make changes that would place these in jeopardy.

Ministry of Defence Police: Trident

Deidre  Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ministry of Defence Police officers are employed in safeguarding the Trident nuclear deterrent.

Mark Lancaster: I am withholding the numbers of Ministry of Defence Police officers deployed to protect the Trident nuclear deterrent for the purpose of safeguarding national security.

Saudi Arabia: Cluster Munitions

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Europe on 8 June 2016, Official Report, column 137WH, when the UK last maintained cluster munitions held by Saudi Arabia.

Michael Fallon: The UK has never maintained cluster munitions held by Saudi Arabia.

Department for Work and Pensions

Jobseeker's Allowance: Disqualification

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many mandatory reconsiderations of jobseekers' allowance sanctions there have been in each of the last five years; and what the total cost was of processing such reconsiderations in each of those years.

Priti Patel: Mandatory Reconsiderations were introduced in October 2013. There were 1,100 decisions made from October to the end of 2013; 54,100 in 2014; and 18,500 in 2015. This is the latest data available. The total cost of processing those reconsiderations is not available at the level of detail requested. These figures are published here https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/

Winter Fuel Payments

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many winter fuel payments were delayed by administrative problems in the last year for which figures are available.

Justin Tomlinson: The information is not available.Where a customer holds an active relationship with DWP either through claiming a Winter Fuel Payment previously or being in receipt of a benefit, such as a state pension, their Winter Fuel Payment is made automatically.Claims are required from those where DWP does not hold the data necessary to generate an automatic payment.

Housing Benefit: Foreign Nationals

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of housing benefit payments is made to non-British nationals in the last 12 months.

Justin Tomlinson: Expenditure on the main DWP working age benefits, including Housing Benefit, for European Economic Area (EEA) national-led claims can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/502129/benefit-expenditure-eea-nationals-ad-hoc-stats.pdf.

Pensions: British Nationals Abroad

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the number of British nationals claiming pensions who live outside the UK and the European Economic Area; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the number of British nationals claiming pensions who live outside the UK and in the European Economic Area; and if he will make a statement.

Justin Tomlinson: No information is available concerning the number of British individuals who are living outside the UK and inside/outside the European Economic Area who are in receipt of a UK State Pension. This is because the UK State Pension is a contributory based pension, where nationality or citizenship do not form part of the eligibility criteria. Information is available on the number of UK State pension recipients who live outside the UK by country; this can be found on the link below to the Department’s Tabulation tool. http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/100pc/sp/cccountry/ccsex/a_carate_r_cccountry_c_ccsex_nov15.html

Capita

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects Capita to respond to the right hon. Member for Delyn in relation to correspondence dated 1 February, 14 April and 10 June 2016 relating to Mrs M. of Flint.

Justin Tomlinson: The letters to which you refer were received by Capita but not processed in line with their standard procedures. Capita apologises for the delay and any inconvenience caused and are investigating why their procedures were not followed. Capita sent their reply to the honourable Member on Friday, 17 June.

Capita

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what service standard he expects of Capita for response times for correspondence from hon. Members relating to personal independence payments.

Justin Tomlinson: Capita aims to respond to correspondence within 20 working days but this is not a contractual service level agreement

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Broadband

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, in how many local authority areas in (a) London and (b) England broadband speeds are below the recommended speed as advised by Ofcom.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Superfast broadband with speeds of at least 24Mbps is now available to 90 per cent of UK premises and this will reach 95 per cent by December 2017. The Government has also implemented a basic broadband scheme to enable all premises to gain access to speeds of at least 2Mbps. This enables residents and businesses in all parts of the UK to gain access to every government service available online. In addition it is the Government's intention to implement a new broadband Universal Service Obligation that will give people the legal right to request a broadband connection, no matter where they live, by the end of this Parliament. Our ambition is that this should initially be set at 10 Mbps. There is no specific recommended speed advised by Ofcom.

Home Office

Asylum: Deportation

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of failed asylum seekers who have been removed or voluntarily deported were (a) overstayers and (b) illegal entrants in each of the last seven years.

James Brokenshire: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 15 June 2016.The correct answer should have been:

Our records indicate that: Our records show what proportion of failed asylum seekers who have been removed or voluntarily deported were overstayers between 2009 and 2015; in table 1Table 1: Proportion of failed asylum seekers with an enforced removal or voluntary departure who had been served a notice of liability for removal for being an overstayer, 2009-2015 2009201020112012201320142015Enforced Removal17%21%30%31%34%35%31%Voluntary Departure9%16%15%24%38%32%24%Our records show what proportion of failed asylum seekers who have been removed or voluntarily deported were illegal entrants between 2009 and 2015; in table 2Table 2: Proportion of failed asylum seekers with an enforced removal or voluntary departure who had been served a notice of liability for removal for being an illegal entrant, 2009-2015 2009201020112012201320142015Enforced Removal48%56%54%45%42%40%44%Voluntary Departure42%40%30%40%36%39%40%Notes The category ‘voluntarily deported’ does not exist and was interpreted as those who had voluntary departed instead. Figures represent the proportion of failed asylum seekers returned who were served a notice of liability for removal with a case type relating to them being an overstayer or an illegal entrant. The data may not, therefore, include all failed asylum seekers who were overstayers or illegal entrants.Enforced removal and voluntary departure data is based on published data from Migration Statistics. This was matched to management information data (extracted on 17 May 2016) on individuals served a notice of liability for removal as described above.   This is provisional management information that is subject to change. It has not been assured to the standard of Official Statistics.

James Brokenshire: Our records indicate that: Our records show what proportion of failed asylum seekers who have been removed or voluntarily deported were overstayers between 2009 and 2015; in table 1Table 1: Proportion of failed asylum seekers with an enforced removal or voluntary departure who had been served a notice of liability for removal for being an overstayer, 2009-2015 2009201020112012201320142015Enforced Removal17%21%30%31%34%35%31%Voluntary Departure9%16%15%24%38%32%24%Our records show what proportion of failed asylum seekers who have been removed or voluntarily deported were illegal entrants between 2009 and 2015; in table 2Table 2: Proportion of failed asylum seekers with an enforced removal or voluntary departure who had been served a notice of liability for removal for being an illegal entrant, 2009-2015 2009201020112012201320142015Enforced Removal48%56%54%45%42%40%44%Voluntary Departure42%40%30%40%36%39%40%Notes The category ‘voluntarily deported’ does not exist and was interpreted as those who had voluntary departed instead. Figures represent the proportion of failed asylum seekers returned who were served a notice of liability for removal with a case type relating to them being an overstayer or an illegal entrant. The data may not, therefore, include all failed asylum seekers who were overstayers or illegal entrants.Enforced removal and voluntary departure data is based on published data from Migration Statistics. This was matched to management information data (extracted on 17 May 2016) on individuals served a notice of liability for removal as described above.   This is provisional management information that is subject to change. It has not been assured to the standard of Official Statistics.

HM Treasury

Debts: China

Matthew Pennycook: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect on the UK economy of the increase in corporate debt in China.

Damian Hinds: The Treasury continuously monitors global economic developments, including in China, and their impact on the UK as part of the normal process of policy development. As one of the most open trading economies in the world with a large financial sector, we have to recognise that the UK is not immune to the continued problems being experienced in the world economy. Nonetheless, the Bank of England’s 2015 stress tests modelled a severe slowdown in commodities and emerging markets. No banks were required to submit revised capital plans following the stress tests. These results indicate that the UK banking system would have the capacity to continue to lend to the real economy, even under such a severe adverse scenario.

Welfare Tax Credits

Paul Blomfield: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many enquiries have been made by hon. Members to HM Revenue and Customs on tax credits claims by (a) e-mail, (b) telephone and (c) letter in the last 12 months.

Damian Hinds: HMRC receives enquiries from hon. Members about tax credit awards in a number of different ways. HMRC seeks to answer every one as a high priority. HMRC collates internal management statistics relating to tax credit enquiries but does not hold comprehensive figures as to how many of these were submitted by hon. Members via each medium.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Coal

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what her Department's definition is of unabated coal.

Andrea Leadsom: We have committed to consulting on when to close all unabated coal-fired power stations. We will set out proposals to close coal by 2025, to ensure we stay on track to meet our decarbonisation pathway. We will seek views on what measures might be applied to existing coal power stations in order to achieve this. In the UK new coal power stations can only be built if their carbon dioxide emissions will be at a level consistent with our decarbonisation targets. This includes compliance with an Emissions Performance Standard equivalent to 450gCO2/kWh for a plant operating at baseload, and which is about half that of a typical existing British coal station. In addition, any new coal power stations would need to meet planning requirements to demonstrate Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology on at least 300MW of the power station’s generating capacity and be CCS-ready on the rest.

District Heating

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what plans she has to extend consumer protections to customers of district heating schemes.

Andrea Leadsom: Holding answer received on 14 June 2016



I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my rt. hon Friend the Secretary of State to the Hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich on 19 November 2015, Official Report Column 813-814:http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm151119/debtext/151119-0001.htm

Civil Nuclear Constabulary

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the date and title is of all reports and assessments produced by her Department relating to the Civil Nuclear Constabulary in each of the last three years; and if she will place those reports in the Library.

Andrea Leadsom: Holding answer received on 15 June 2016



The CNC produces its own Annual Reports and periodic Business Strategies, along with other publications, which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-nuclear-police-authority.

Civil Nuclear Constabulary: Health

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what fitness testing is carried out for Civil Nuclear Constabulary officers on active service; how many officers were tested in each of the last two years; and what the results of those tests were.

Andrea Leadsom: Holding answer received on 15 June 2016



All operationally deployed Civil Nuclear Constabulary officers are required to meet the fitness standards of their role profile and those required by the College of Policing. Between 15 June 2014 and 14 June 2015, 608 officers were tested and 99% achieved the required level. Between 15 June 2015 and 14 June 2016, 827 officers were tested and 98% achieved the required level.

Energy: Meters

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps the Government is taking to bring the cost of pre-payment meters into line with other payment methods such as direct debit.

Andrea Leadsom: Energy suppliers are required under the terms of their licence to ensure that any differences in charges only reflect the higher levels of costs to serve pre-payment meter customers. I welcome the positive steps some energy suppliers are taking to offer better prepayment meter tariffs including offering the same prices as direct debit customers. Nevertheless, we share the Competition and Market Authority’s (CMA) concern that there is still a limited choice of tariffs for pre-pay customers compared to direct debit and standard credit. The CMA’s final report is due to be published shortly.

Climate Change Convention: Bonn

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many UK Government officials and from which departments attended the Bonn intersessional UN climate meeting in (a) May 2016, (b) October 2015 and (c) June 2015.

Andrea Leadsom: There were 25 Government officials in the UK delegation at Bonn in May 2016; 25 Government officials in the UK delegation at Bonn in October 2015 and 44 Government officials in the UK delegation at Bonn in June 2015. The UK delegation included officials from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and the Scottish Government at each of these sessions. Officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Met Office were present at the meeting in Bonn in June 2015.

Cabinet Office

Clinical Commissioning Groups

Robert Flello: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people are resident in the areas covered by each clinical commissioning group in England; and how many births were recorded in each such area in each of the last three years.

Mr Rob Wilson: Holding answer received on 14 June 2016



The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Letter to Member - Clinical Commissioning
(PDF Document, 62.72 KB)

Life Expectancy

Royston Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the life expectancy is of residents of the (a) Southampton City, (b) NHS West London, (c) NHS North Manchester and (d) West Hampshire clinical commissioning group areas.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Letter to Member - Life Expectancy
(PDF Document, 65.75 KB)

Department of Health

General Practitioners

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many new GP registrations there were in (a) Southampton City, (b) NHS West London, (c) NHS North Manchester and (d) West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group in 2015-16.

Alistair Burt: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following table. Number of patients registered in April 2015 versus April 2016:Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs)Total Patients 1 April 2015Total Patients 1 April 2016DifferenceNHS North Manchester200,668206,1405,472NHS Southampton270,636276,4145,778NHS West London243,620242,428-1,192NHS West Hampshire548,279553,2374,958Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) Notes:The above table shows the total number of patients registered at general practitioner (GP) practices within the named CCGs, on the specified dates. This information is extracted on a quarterly basis from the GP Payments System, which is maintained by the HSCIC.The HSCIC has provided the difference between the number of patients registered at GP practices in the named CCGs on 1 April 2015 and 1 April 2016. However, the HSCIC cannot provide the number of ‘new’ registrations.It is possible that individuals are double counted, e.g. students registered at their home address and university. It is also possible that individuals are removed, e.g. GP cleaning off duplications.The data is also published on the HSCIC website: http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB20480

General Practitioners

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average cost to the public purse was of an appointment to see a GP in (a) Southampton City, (b) NHS West London, (c) NHS North Manchester and (d) West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group in 2015-16.

Alistair Burt: This information is not collected centrally.

Primary Health Care

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2016 to Question 39260, what factors determine the target allocations for primary care funding.

Alistair Burt: The factors that determine the target allocations for primary care announced in January 2016 for 2016-17 to 2020-21 are: the total size and age-sex profile of each clinical commissioning group’s general practitioner (GP) practices’ registered lists; the number of new registrations; the Index of Multiple Deprivation decile of the GP practice’s registered list; an adjustment for differences in unavoidable costs of non-medical staff employed by GP practices; an adjustment for unmet need and health inequalities based on the standardised mortality ratio for those aged under 75 years; and the national budget available. NHS England recently published a technical guide to allocations which sets out all the individual factors used in determining the allocation levels. The guide is available here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2016/04/allocations-tech-guide-16-17/#

Clinical Commissioning Groups: Finance

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is able to take to redistribute funding from clinical commissioning groups that are over their target allocation.

Alistair Burt: Responsibility for clinical commissioning group (CCG) allocations rests with NHS England rather than the Department, as set out in The Mandate. These decisions have been taken independently of Government, in order that such an important issue as funding is made objectively and free from perceived political considerations. The funding allocated to all CCGs is based on the CCG allocations formula. This is based on advice provided by the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA). ACRA is an independent committee and reports jointly to the Secretary of State for Health (in regard to public health allocations) and NHS England in regard to CCG and primary care allocations. In regards to determining how quickly to move CCGs from their current allocation to the target allocation determined by the allocations formula, NHS England’s objective is to reduce the ‘distance from target’ so that areas furthest below their target allocation receive the biggest increases, and areas above their target consequently receive smaller increases. This difference in the size of increases is a judgement – it is important to ensure service stability for those areas above target, and that increases for under target areas are not so large that resources are not used efficiently. The approach also takes account of the distance from target in each area for primary care and specialised services so that the overall funding position for the area is taken into account. NHS England recently published a technical guide to allocations which sets out all the individual factors used in determining the allocation levels. The guide is available here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2016/04/allocations-tech-guide-16-17/#

Ethnic Groups

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of residents of the (a) Southampton City, (b) NHS West London, (c) NHS North Manchester and (d) West Hampshire clinical commissioning group areas are BME.

Alistair Burt: The information is not available in the format requested. Information taken from the 2011 census relating to different ethnic groups by local authority area is available from the Office for National Statistics website and can be accessed using the following link: http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=10&ved=0ahUKEwj5--nf16fNAhVGAsAKHdDPD1gQFghgMAk&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ons.gov.uk%2Fons%2Frel%2Fcensus%2F2011-census%2Fkey-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales%2Frft-table-ks201ew.xls&usg=AFQjCNHU7ZRFLUiH2ej7prDA4_Ytmza-xg&bvm=bv.124272578,d.ZGg

Patients

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients are supported by (a) NHS West London, (b) NHS North Manchester and (c) West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

Alistair Burt: The number of registered patients in each of the specified clinical commissioning group (CCG) areas as at 1 April 2016 is shown in the following table. CCGNumber of registered patientsNHS West London242,428NHS North Manchester206,140NHS West Hampshire553,237 Source: Information extracted on a quarterly basis from the General Practice payments system, which is maintained by the Health and Social Care Information Centre.

General Practitioners

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what decisions have been taken on the distribution of the funding that was announced in the General Practice Forward View.

Alistair Burt: The General Practice Forward View, published by NHS England on 21 April 2016, stated that by 2020/21 recurrent funding to general practice will increase by an estimated £2.4 billion a year. In December 2015, the NHS England Board published Allocation of resources to NHS England and the commissioning sector for 2016/17 to 2020/21, which set firm allocations for the years 2016/17 to 2018/19 and indicative allocations, to assist with planning, for the years 2019/20 and 2020/21. Part B of that paper is entitled Distribution of funds within each commissioning stream and paragraphs 34 to 38 describe the primary care allocation formula that was used to calculate the published allocations. Further details on the formula, including recent revisions and improvements to it, are outlined in annex E, available on the NHS England website at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/04.PB_.17.12.15-Allocations.pdf In January 2016, the detailed NHS England Allocations Primary Care (medical) figures for 2016/17 to 2020/21 were published for clinical commissioning group (CCG) areas. These show firm allocations for 2016/17 to 2018/19 and indicative allocations, to help with planning, for 2019/20 and 2020/21. The paper is available on the NHS England website at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/pc-medical-allocations.pdf In addition, the 44 Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) areas have received indicative allocations, which include: CCG expenditure on general practice, which is funded from CCG allocations; shares of general practice access funding; and also the mental health allocation, which will fund the additional therapists mentioned in the General Practice Forward View. Together the above account for around £2.1 billion of the £2.4 billion increase. There are a number of elements not included in the commissioning or STP allocations, including the Estates and Technology Transformation Fund (formerly the Primary Care Transformation Fund), capital funding and funding for general practitioner trainers and general practitioner trainees. These other elements account for around £0.3 billion of the £2.4 billion increase, and it is yet to be determined how this funding will be allocated across the country.

Dental Services: Private Sector

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the mechanisms in place to pursue complaints against private company owners providing dental services in the event that the dentist who carried out the procedure leaves the country.

Alistair Burt: A complaint about privately funded healthcare is a matter between the patient and the provider of the service or clinician. However, if the service was commissioned by the National Health Service for NHS patients the NHS complaints regulations will apply and the complaint can be made to either the provider or commissioner of the service but not to both. In the circumstances where a provider is not available the complaint should be made to the commissioner of the service.

Radiotherapy

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of making the Mobetron mobile device for the delivery of radiotherapy available on the NHS.

Jane Ellison: No such assessment has been made. Although NHS England commissions radiotherapy services, the choice of equipment rests with individual providers.

Pharmacy

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effectiveness in delivering medicines savings in the community of the not-dispensed scheme for community pharmacies proposed by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effectiveness in delivering medicines savings in the community of the therapeutic substitution service for community pharmacies proposed by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.

Alistair Burt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Workington (Sue Hayman) on 14 June 2016 to Question 40161.

Liver Diseases: Health Services

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 9 May 2016 to Question 36231, when he expects the liver disease framework to be published.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England (PHE) is producing a liver disease framework which will outline PHE’s wide range of work contributing to the prevention of liver disease and the improved wellbeing of patients with liver disease. The PHE Liver Disease Framework is expected to be published in autumn 2016.